Air Asia-Checked Baggage Fee

[jingjai]

http://www.airasia.com/nl/nl080404-en.htm

"It's Green, It's Fair - Pay for what you use
Lighter Planes = Less Fuel = Low Fares
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are airlines moving towards changing either weight or pieces for checked baggage?
With airlines moving towards an 'ala carte' pricing structure, people have found it acceptable to pay for services that they choose to purchase, just as they have accepted paying for meals. By charging a baggage handling fee, passengers will bring only what they need, making the system more efficient for everyone and lower costs for the airlines.

2. What is checked baggage allowance?
Each passenger is permitted to check-in a maximum weight as personal checked baggage.

3. What is the maximum weight for checked baggage?
Each passenger is allowed up to 15kg of checked baggage, free of charge. Baggage exceeding 32kg will not be accepted.

4. What is a Checked Baggage Handling Fee?
A fee incurred for each piece of checked baggage per one way.

5. When will a Checked Baggage Handling Fee apply?
For every item/bag that is accepted by us for carriage in the hold of the aircraft.

6. What are the charges for the checked Baggage Handling Fee per piece per one way?
There are two different charges. One that can be purchased at a discounted rate and another at an airport rate.

7. What is the charge at the discounted pre-purchase rate and the full rate at the Airport? Below is the fee schedule:
Currency RM THB IDR USD MOP CNY HKD BND PHP SGD
Pre-Purchase Rate
(Discounted Rate) 3 30 9000 1 8 7 8 1 41 1
Airport Rate
(Full Rate) 5 50 15000 2 13 12 13 2 68 2

8. How many pieces can I pre-purchase?
Guests may pre-purchase a maximum of 3 pieces at a discounted rate either at the point of booking or more than 24 hours prior to departure at the Call Centre/Sales Office/Airport.

9. How many pieces and maximum weight am I allowed to check-in?
No limit in pieces and weight, provided the Baggage Handling Fee is paid for each piece and excess baggage weight of the combined pieces is more than the Checked Baggage Allowance of 15kg.

10. Are Sports Equipment exempted from the Checked Baggage Handling Fee since the Sports Equipment fee is paid?
A Checked Baggage Handling Fee is a fee paid for each piece of Checked Baggage per one way. Sports Equipment may be carried in the hold of the aircraft upon payment of the Sports Equipment Fee per one way. These are 2 separate fees and neither is refundable or transferable unless the passenger meets the criteria of pooled baggage.

11. Will I be refunded my Checked Baggage Handling Fee if I choose not to travel?
Checked Baggage Handling Fee is non-refundable.

12. Can I up/down grade the number of pieces after purchase, and receive a refund for the downgrade?
Once a piece is purchase, it is non-refundable; therefore, you can't downgrade your pieces and be refunded. However, we do allow passengers to upgrade the number of pre-purchase pieces. This can be done at more than 24 hours prior departure at the Call Centre/Sales Office/Airport Sales Counter.
Note: Only 3 pieces per passenger can be pre-purchased."

I wonder what's next???

[Jing Jing]

Maybe seats cushions will be optional!!

or

http://utube.com/watch?v=QCz8he36hsk

[bamboopaul]

Basically they are copying what other budget airlines are doing in Europe, Ryan Air and FlyBe.

Ryan Air now charges you to check in !!!!

Flybe charges you for everything once you have purchased your ticket.

This could mean a swing over to the scheduled carriers with not so high prices.

Myself I fly Nok air, which have great planes, good staff and friendly approach, most fares are around 1700 per sector

[handsome-Dane]

Well I know that Easy jet advertice that you can fly from Copenhagen to Barcelona for only 10 Euro. But when they are finished with all there charges, the ticket cost 112 Euro. I think its the same with all the lowfare airlines. I never fly with them.

[Jing Jing]

The thing that bothers me the most with airline prices is they all give you a low ball figure. This is never the true fare. I want to be able to go to their website and be told the total fare up front and not after filling in a form or clicking through several pages. I don't care what all the charges are for. I can't do anything about them.

I want to be told the total fare and what time I need to be at check-in. I don't care when the plane is supposed to depart the terminal. Again that is not my problem when the plane can leave the terminal. I don't want to do any math calculations to determine when I need to be at the check-in counter.

The one problem I have with Nok is if I want to do multiple destinations the ticketing is not configured to handle this. For example I want to go from Udon to Phuket. Right now I have to book Udon to BKK and then BKK to Phuket. It would be nice if the software program could be altered to allow for this. I would feel more confident that I was booked as a continuing passenger.

[Jing Jing]

Maybe the no-frills airlines could come up with creative things to sell their passengers.

How about:
a) picture of you with sexy air hostess
b) picture with captain and crew
c) a Mile High Club certificate
d) a sexy air hostess calender
e) a lap dance with your drink

Maybe these would help the airlines bottom line.

[BKKSTAN]

The thing that bothers me the most with airline prices is they all give you a low ball figure. This is never the true fare. I want to be able to go to their website and be told the total fare up front and not after filling in a form or clicking through several pages. I don't care what all the charges are for. I can't do anything about them.

I want to be told the total fare and what time I need to be at check-in. I don't care when the plane is supposed to depart the terminal. Again that is not my problem when the plane can leave the terminal. I don't want to do any math calculations to determine when I need to be at the check-in counter.
.

I am with you on these!

So many of these airlines do it this way!They must have found that it works for them!I"ll be damned if I can figure it out,unless people checking it out are to lazy to go somewhere else !

[jingjai]

The thing that bothers me the most with airline prices is they all give you a low ball figure. This is never the true fare. I want to be able to go to their website and be told the total fare up front and not after filling in a form or clicking through several pages. I don't care what all the charges are for. I can't do anything about them.
I want to be told the total fare and what time I need to be at check-in.

=D> =D> =D>

[arjay]

In Europe, well certainly in the Uk, they are legally obligated to quote the bottom line (end) price, rather than, as they do here in LOS, quote a base figure, than add on things like taxes, insurance, fuel surcharges etc etc.

You should know what the bottom line is - or what you are going to have to pay - up front, not after you have proceeded through your an extended booking process.

[jingjai]

You know, I think the best way to deal with these domestic & international airlines, is to go to the airport, and deal with a live person or telephone to them. I remember once I attempted to book online, almost got finished, then my internet connection got reset or something like that. All my efforts were lost.
The people at Thai Airlines & Nok at Udon airport were most helpful in the past.
I know the airlines as well as hotels always tout their "special internet rate", but if you tell them you are having problems with your connection, they will sometimes give you the "special rate", if you ask.

[Jing Jing]

With Thai it is definitely the only way to buy. Every time I looked on their website the prices were ridiculous . I couldn't figure out why people were flying them. Then 1 time the wife and I went to their booth at the airport. The agent said if you buy at the airport or at the city office the price is cheaper than the website. Thai gives you a sandwich when you fly Udon to BKK. According to the wife the Thais complained about the service on their national airline.

[arjay]

Thai Air sometimes offer special offers through travel agents. Though Nok usually offer better prices via the Internet and the further in advance the better.

Recently Nok did some 50% discounts if booked online after midnight. Also I have in the past scooped up a few of their 3 baht special prices. Though as mentioned above, by the time you've then added on the tax, insurance and fuel surcharge, the prices ended up anywhere between about 750 and over 1000 baht.

Thai can be advantageous if booking through from Phuket to Udon (or vica versa), as you can do it in the one booking, and only need to check in once, with your luggage being transferred through in Bangkok. Whereas with Nok you have to make 2 separate bookings, (after having checked availability on the second leg), and collect your luggage and carry it around until you check in again in Bangkok!

[BangkokButcher]

In Europe, well certainly in the Uk, they are legally obligated to quote the bottom line (end) price

They are, but they dont!!

[JimboPSM]

It is obviously a fairly minor problem in Europe as there are only about two hundred airlines in Europe misleading the consumer on pricing

From The Register: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13 ... _websites/

EC threatens legal action against airline websites

Study: Over half misleading the consumer
By Kelly Fiveash
Published Tuesday 13th November 2007 11:54 GMT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of Europe's leading airlines could be forced to shut down their websites next year if they fail to respond to damning criticism dished out in a report from the European Commission (EC).

Results of the EC's consumer watchdog investigation, which is due out tomorrow, found that about 200 European airline websites were misleading the consumer.

The study highlighted how many websites had failed to include taxes and charges when first indicating the cost of a ticket, while others were guilty of not providing proper cancellation information.

According to Reuters, the EC concluded in its report that "over 50 per cent of all websites showed irregularities, in particular relating to price indications, contract terms and clarity of proposed conditions".

"Companies will be contacted by authorities and asked to provide clarification or change their practices in four months. Those who fail to do so could face legal action leading to fines or closure of their websites."

The EC did not reveal which companies had performed badly during the investigation that took place in September and involved 15 airline authorities throughout the European Union.

However, it said it will be publishing a list of airline firms that it believed needed to clean up their online act in March next year.

And from BBC business: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7091950.stm

Airline websites 'are misleading'

At least 200 European airline websites are misleading the consumer, a study by the European Commission has found.
Websites are failing to show taxes and charges, and refusing to advertise the lowest fare prominently, according to the report.

The Commission has refused to name any airlines involved in order to give them time to improve their service.

Last month, a Spanish watchdog said it had found misleading information on seven websites, including Ryanair's.

Extensive search

The Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, could force offending websites to close next year if they fail to improve.

Fifteen different national airline authorities across the EU took part in the exercise for one weekend at the end of September.

They trawled through 400 websites, and found half were not complying in one way or other with EU law.

Common infringements included: